Vikram Vij is a Canadian chef, television personality, and cookbook author. He is known for his restaurants, appearances on cooking shows, and as one of the Dragons on Dragons’ Den. Although he is a well-known celebrity chef, there are many facts about Vikram Vij that people do not know. Here are some Vikram Vij facts you may find interesting.
Vikram Vij Facts: His Personal Life
Where Was Vikram Vij Born?
Vikram Vij was born in Amritsar, Punjab, India, in December 1964. He also lived in Delhi and Bombay during his childhood. However, Vij moved from India to Salzberg, Austria, in 1983 to study hotel management. He did not move to Canada until 1989.
Is Vikram Vij Married?
One of the facts that people want to know about the Canadian chef is ‘Is Vikram Vij married?’ The answer is that he was married to Meeru Dhawala, who was born in India and raised in Washington, D.C. The couple’s mothers were old friends, and they introduced Vij to Dhawala. They married on Christmas Eve 1994. Unfortunately, the couple has now divorced.
Does Vikram Vij Have Children?
Vikram Vij has two daughters with Meera Dhawala.
Where Does Vikram Vij Live?
Vikram Vij lives in Vancouver, Canada, where his ex-wife and two daughters also live.
Vikram Vij’s Culinary Career
He Began His Career in Europe
After studying hotel management in Salzburg, he remained in Austria for his chef’s training. He then spent some time working in Vienna. During this period, Vij also became a trained sommelier.
Vij Worked in Canadian Restaurants in the Early 1990s
After moving to Canada in 1989, Vikram Vij worked in several Canadian restaurants during the early 1990s. These included Banff Spring Hotel in Alberta and Bishop’s restaurant in Vancouver.
He Opened His First Restaurant in 1994
In 1994, Vikram Vij took the plunge and opened his first restaurant. He called the fine-dining restaurant Vij’s, and his ex-wife later became a partner. It was praised as one of the world’s finest Indian restaurants. Despite his culinary training, Vij did not make the food himself at first. Instead, his parent made the curries in their home and had the food delivered to the restaurant by bus.
Vikram Vij Opened His Second Restaurant in 2004
Some chefs start opening multiple restaurants as soon as their first become successful, but that was not the case with Vij. The chef waited an entire decade before opening Rangoli with his wife in 2004. While his first restaurant is a fine-dining establishment, his second restaurant had a more casual vibe. Rangoli closed its doors in 2020. Vij launched his third restaurant, My Shanti, in South Surrey in 2014. It is his first restaurant without his ex-wife.
He Has a Range of Gourmet Curries
When Vij became known for his outstanding curries, retailers became interested in selling his product. Along with his wife, Vikram Vij launched a range of gourmet curries called Vij’s Inspired Indian Cuisine. The couple opened a processing facility to meet the demands of retailers.
The Chef Also has a Food Truck
One of the interesting Vikram Vij facts is that he has not limited his culinary career to restaurants and mass manufacturing; he also has a street food truck called Vij’s Railway Express, which he launched in 2012. The food truck serves Vij’s curries in downtown Vancouver.
Vij’s Culinary Philosophy
Vikram Vij’s culinary philosophy combines the traditions and flavours of Indian cuisine with Canadian produce. He tries to use locally-sourced and seasonal produce in his cooking, alongside authentic Indian spices.
Facts About Vikram Vij in the Media
He First Appeared on Television in 2003
Vikram Vij’s first television appearance was in 2003 when he appeared as a guest on Christine Cushing Live. His first television program that focused on his culinary career was the 2006 shot film Vij’s in Essence.
Vij Featured in Top Chef Canada Three Times
For Three consecutive years between 2011 and 2013, Vikram Vij was a guest judge on episodes of Top Chef Canada. The chef has also acted as a judge in televised competitions such as Recipe to Riches and Chopped Canada.
He Was a Guest on Dragons Den
Vikram Vij introduced himself to a new group of viewers that did not necessarily know him from his appearances on cooking shows when he became a Dragon on Dragons’ Den. He was one of the investors on the series in eight episodes of season nine between 2014 and 2015.
His Publications
Vikram Vij’s Cookbooks
During his career, Vikram Vij has published three cookbooks. The first two were in collaboration with his ex-wife. Vij published his first solo cookbook, ‘Vi: A Chef’s One-Way Ticket to Canada with Indian Spices in His Suitcase,’ in 2017.
Vij Contributes to Various Publications
In addition to writing his cookbooks, Vikram Vij also contributes to many publications. These include The Globe and Mail, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Food & Wine, Bon Apetit, Travel + Leisure, Art Culinaire, and Sunset magazine.
Other Vikram Vij Facts
What Is Vikram Vij’s Net Worth?
One of the facts about Vikram Vij that many of his fans want to know is ‘What is Vikram Vij’s net worth?’ He has become one of the richest celebrity chefs in the world, and it is reported that Vikram Vij’s net worth is around $60 million, which is the same net worth as Bobby Flay and David Chang and richer than Jose Andreas, Charlie Ayers, Marco Pierre White, Rick Bayless, Giada de Laurentiis, and Robert Irvine. However, he is not as rich as Ina Garten, Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, or Nobu Matsuhisa.
What is Vikram Vij’s Favourite Food?
The type of cuisine he is most passionate about is Indian food. The Canadian chef is proud of all the dishes on his menus, but Eats Abroad says that the lamb popsicle is the most popular option in his restaurants.
He Supports Sustainability
One issue about which Vikram Vij is passionate is sustainability. He supports several causes related to sustainability and promotes it in his businesses.
Vij Inspired a Learning Facility
Vikram Vij has been involved in the work of the University of British Colombia for many years. His dedication inspired the creation of a state-of-the-art culinary education facility called Vij’s Kitchen. The original kitchen was built in 1982, and Vij contributed $250,000 to complete the facility’s makeover.
We hoped you enjoy reading our Vikram Vij facts.